Mind The Gap

America’s British population has taken to the web to voice its displeasure at news that U.S. candy giant Hershey has successfully blocked our much loved U.K.-produced chocolate from being exported to the land of the free.

Steven Moffat: “Why Would We Make ‘Sherlock’ Into A Movie?”

‘Hollywood? What on earth is that?” Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Gatiss

In the heirarchy of media, movies sit at the very top of the tree, just above TV, which is just above radio, which is just above books, which are just above magazines and newspapers, which are just above the internet (hello!).

So when you’re the co-creator of a hit TV show, it’s worth considering whether you’ll want to take your stars and your stories and create something special for the big screen.

This was the question put to Steven Moffat at a special screening of Sherlock’s third series at London’s BFI this week. Having already seen Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor” make the move from living room to multiplex with great success, did he think a Sherlock movie would be a good idea?

“If there was a really good reason [as to] why this story needs to be told in that way, then yes.

“There would have to be a significant reason why you’d do it. Films, for some reason, take much longer to make, so you would be reducing the amount of Sherlock you’re getting. So, I’m not sure.”

And in case you think that sounds like an equivocal position: “I don’t think there’s anything about cinema that outranks televison these days. After all, I can say that proudly because Doctor Who’s 50th was No.2 at the American box office with only limited distribution!”

Fraser McAlpine

Fraser has been writing and broadcasting about music and popular culture for over 15 years, first at the Top of the Pops website, and most recently for the NME, Guardian and MSN. He also wrote BBC Radio 1's Chart Blog and reviews albums for BBC Radio 2.
He is Anglophenia's current resident Brit, blogging about British slang and running around the Mall taking snaps of the crowd at the Royal Wedding, as well as reigniting a childhood passion for classic Doctor Who and cramming as much music in as he can manage.
Fraser invites you to join him on Twitter: @csi_popmusic

Latest Interviews

The Latest from Mind The Gap

America’s British population has taken to the web to voice its displeasure at news that U.S. candy giant Hershey has successfully blocked our much loved U.K.-produced chocolate from being exported to the land of the free.